Daily Archives: December 19, 2016

CONTENT

Sherman County Court Session Update, Dec. 21

Whale Watching Week Along the Oregon Coast, Dec. 27-31

Maryhill Museum of Art Seeks Teachers for Art Exhibitions in 2017

Department of Justice, Public Records & Meetings Law

Citizen’s Guide to Public Records and Meetings

The USA is the Great Experiment in Positive Thinking

Links: Things to Think About & Things to Do

Said the night wind to the little lamb, ‘Do you see what I see? Way up in the sky, little lamb, Do you see what I see? A star, a star, dancing in the night With a tail as big as a kite, With a tail as big as a kite.

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy, ‘Do you hear what I hear? Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy, Do you hear what I hear? A song, a song high above the trees With a voice as big as the sea,With a voice as big as the sea.

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king, ‘Do you know what I know? In your palace warm, mighty king, Do you know what I know? A Child, a Child shivers in the cold Let us bring him silver and gold, Let us bring him silver and gold.

Said the king to the people everywhere, “Listen to what I say! Pray for peace, people, everywhere, Listen to what I say! The Child, the Child sleeping in the night He will bring us goodness and light, He will bring us goodness and light.

~ Noel Regney-Gloria Shayne

1. Sherman County Court Session Update, Dec. 21

The courtroom is now available, so the Sherman County Court session scheduled for Wednesday, December 21, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. will be held in its usual location in the Circuit Courtroom at the Sherman County Courthouse, 500 Court Street, Moro, Oregon, 97039. The public hearing regarding the Sherman County mass gathering ordinance at 11:30 a.m. will also be held in the Circuit Courtroom. If you have questions, please contact the Office of the County Court at 541-565-3416.

2. Whale Watching Week Along the Oregon Coast, Dec. 27-31

Gray whales are on the move along the Oregon coast headed south to their winter grounds off Baja California, Mexico. Let trained volunteers help you spot the migrating whales during the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department annual winter Whale Watching Week, Dec. 27-31. Volunteers with the Whale Watching Spoken Here program will be stationed at 24 sites, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on those days to share whale watching tips, migration facts and whale feeding habits.

“We’ve already seen the first migrating gray whales in the past few days and we expect another excellent winter whale watching week,” said Luke Parsons, Whale Watching Center ranger. “Last winter our volunteers helped people see more than 1,600 gray whales plus a pod of orcas and some humpback whales spotted on the central coast. You never know what you’re going to see while you’re whale watching, but that’s half the fun.”

The winter migration typically lasts until mid-January. A map of the watch sites is available online at whalespoken.org. Camping, including yurts and cabins, is available at state parks along the coast. Go to oregonstateparks.org to check availability and make a reservation.

Check www.oregonstateparks.org and www.tripcheck.com for weather-related alerts and closures before heading to the coast. Be aware of winter storms and high waves–respect closures, stay off the sand and watch storms from an elevated location.

4. Department of Justice, Public Records & Meetings Law

Oregon’s open government laws promote democracy by ensuring that all state, regional and local governments conduct their business with transparency. Oregon citizens have a right to know how their government is spending their tax dollars and exercising the powers granted by the people. This page is a resource for all Oregonians to understand and exercise their right to access their government. ~ http://www.doj.state.or.us/public_records/pages/index.aspx

Some highlights:

Public Records and Meetings Manual – Every two years, following adjournment of regular legislative sessions, the Attorney General updates and publishes a Public Records and Meetings Manual. The manual is intended to provide assistance to state agencies, local governments and to the public generally. DOJ also offers a more general overview of Oregon transparency laws in its Citizen’s Guide to Public Records and Meetings.

Public Records Law Reform Task Force – On October 23, 2015, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum announced the formation of the Attorney General’s Public Records Law Reform Task Force, a group designed to review and recommend improvements to Oregon’s public records laws.

Request for Public Records – Requests for public records in the custody of the Department of Justice must be submitted in writing. Oregon law provides that the Department of Justice may require the requestor to cover the cost of compiling records. The costs associated with complying with a public records request may include locating, photocopying, reviewing, redacting and mailing the documents (see Public Records Costs and Fees). If you are looking for information about your child support case please Submit a Child Support Case Records Request.

Appeal a State Agency’s Denial of Your Request for Records – Oregon law provides that if an individual is denied public records from a state agency, that person may petition the Attorney General to issue a Public Records Order (PRO). The Attorney General may only review petitions relating state agency records. If your request was denied by a local public body, you may petition the District Attorney in the county. See ORS 192.450 & 192.460.

Search for Public Records Orders – The Attorney General issues Public Records Orders in response to appeals from state agencies’ public records decisions. Many Public Records Orders are available on the Attorney General’s website. http://www.doj.state.or.us/public_records/pages/index.aspx

5. Citizen’s Guide to Public Records and Meetings

Oregon’s open government laws promote democracy by ensuring that all state, regional and local governments conduct their business with transparency. Oregon citizens have a right to know how their government is spending their tax dollars and exercising the powers granted by the people. The public performs a vital watchdog role by invoking the Public Records and Public Meetings Laws to seek and disseminate information about how the government is functioning… …

What can I do if my records request is denied by an elected official?

If an elected official, such as a mayor or a sheriff or a statewide elected official denies your request for public records, you cannot appeal to the Attorney General or District Attorney. To challenge the decision, you must file the lawsuit in Circuit Court.

6. The USA is the Great Experiment in Positive Thinking

We still live in the greatest country in the world. The United States is the great experiment in positive thinking; our entire system of government is based upon faith in the inherent goodness of the individual. It was a revolutionary idea more than 200 years ago when the Declaration of Independence was first signed. Borrowing from the greatest thinkers in history, our founding fathers established a form of government of the people that is today the model most imitated around the world. Economic and political conditions ebb and flow, but as long as we have a democratic society that celebrates the individual, we can achieve anything in life we desire. All you require to be successful in the United States is the desire to achieve success and the determination to stick with it until you reach your goals. ~ Napoleon Hill